Geneva hosted the 7th meeting of the Working group on EIA and SEA (Espoo Convention)

3 June 2018

On 28-30 May 2018, Geneva (Switzerland) hosted the 7th meeting of the Working group on environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA). The meeting reviewed the status of ratification of the Espoo Convention1 by Parties and compliance with and implementation of its provisions.

Among others, the Secretariat of the Convention released the report on the status of ratification of the Convention, its amendments and SEA Protocol2. TheWorkinggroupwelcomedratificationoftwoamendmentsbyDenmark and Canada. For the first amendment to enter into force, it is necessary that Ukraine, Armenia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belgium, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Greece ratify it and therefore these Parties were called on the promptest ratification.

Inthecourseofthemeeting, theImplementationCommitteeoftheEspooConventionpresentedresultsofitsworkat 39th3, 40th4 and 41st5 sessions and called on the Parties, including Ukraine, to speed up the reform of the national legislation by bringing it into compliance with the Espoo Convention and the Protocol on SEA.

Moreover, substantialpartofthemeetingwasdevotedtodevelopmentofguidanceregardingapplicationofprovisionsoftheEspooConventionbyPartiesin the course of adoption decisions on lifetime extension of nuclear power plants6. In particular, the draft of such a decision is to be presented in 2019. The Guidance is expected to be adopted in 2020.